December 28, 2019

Many people take the training and handling of their horse for granted

A while ago I was shown a horse video. The video was titled “funny horse video”, or something like that…

The intention was that it was a video to laugh with. You know such videos: horses that open their stables, give kisses and poop in a bucket.

I had not looked up the video myself, because I usually find such videos not funny at all. I received the link to it via e-mail from an old acquaintance.

I clearly don’t share the same kind of humor with the old acquaintance. The video was not only not funny at all, but it was also very stressful to watch it and at the end downright shocking.

It started very quietly with a group of riders wading through a lake at sunset. It all looked very pleasant and relaxing.

Until suddenly a brown horse is startled by splashing water, starts running circles through the water like crazy, sinks through his legs and almost drowns, after which he struggles up with great difficulty, gallops to the beach in panic and arriving there starts bucking around until the young teenage girl is catapulted off. Fortunately, it ends well for both of them, they only get off with a fright.

Next, I see a horse that bites a passing child in its arm. Well, not really in the arm, but the horse did hold the child’s sweater and didn’t let go of it. The child was too scared to cry.

What followed was a jet-black and giant-sized horse dragging a tiny, frail lady across the yard. The horse was able to run backward faster than me forward. The lady had perseverance though, it lasted at least 10 seconds before she released the rope.

In the following excerpt, you see a tall woman working with a small cute shetland pony. She lunges him in the double long lines and wants to send the pony in trot between 2 barrels (heavy wooden wine barrels). However, something goes wrong and the pony frontally hits against 1 of the barrels.

Then a tough-looking man with a cowboy hat comes into the picture. He tries to lure his horse with food. All around him energetic, jumping, pushy horses. They all want the food, except for the horse he wants to catch, of course.

One horse suddenly comes into the picture behind the cowboy, turns his rear towards him and kicks him hard in the back. The cowboy collapses and the next fragment starts.

I should have stopped watching, but you know the phenomenon: you don’t want to see something, so you look.

What then comes along is a fantastic beautiful snow-white baroque horse. The dream horse is playing in liberty with a middle-aged blonde woman. The horse in a canter, waving manes. The woman hopping alongside, with a big smile on her face.

Until the gelding has had enough of her frolic. His expression changes and he clearly shows that he wants to stop. The woman, however, drives him forward, because she wants to continue the fun. His reaction? He kicks her in full in the face.

They call this “funny horse videos”. But these are all true fragments. Some luckily with a good outcome, others unfortunately with a disastrous ending.

I don’t find this funny. I have experienced a lot with horses myself.

I already broke 3 fingers in my right hand, 2 fingers out of joint in my left hand, had a broken nose, a broken heel, a torn ankle joint, bruised toes, painful hips, tibia inflamed, an open wound on my forehead. But also horses with injuries, both physical and emotional.

All the result of “accidents”. Just like in the video. Accidents due to inexperience, not paying attention, wrong assessments, wrong approach.

After 25 years of working professionally with “difficult” and traumatized horses, I now know the do’s and don’ts. I know what to look for when I meet a horse for the first time. I’ve learned how to avoid accidents.

All incidents from the video I saw could also be avoided. If the riders/trainers concerned handled it in a different way or received better guidance.

Many people take training and handling horses for granted. Don’t do that.

Perhaps you have also experienced enough stressful situations with horses or have actually suffered trauma.

Maybe you’re right in the middle of it this moment and you really don’t know how to deal with it.

Because you don’t have that much experience and knowledge yet, or because you haven’t found the right guidance.

You must know that everything starts with the relationship with your horse. Building a strong bond. Mutual understanding. Creating trust. Clear communication. That’s the foundation.

If your foundation is strong, if the connection with your horse is strong, then you’re ready to move on.

That next step is groundwork training. Groundwork training in a horse-friendly, step by step and safe way. So that it remains clear to your horse, so that your horse understands what you mean and can learn in a pleasant progressive way.

No stress, no accidents, no risks.

Great learning moments, making progress, achieving your goals. In a safe way.

If you want me to help you with that, then I have something wonderful for you.

You can purchase the Horsefulness Liberty Program and the Groundwork Program as a pack.

With that, you can save € 350.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or advanced horse(wo)man. I can help you all the way.

Remember: if you can dream it, you can do it! It’s all possible!
x Karine